Suarez sorry for bite felt around the world

Associated Press :
June 30, 2014
: Updated: June 30, 2014 10:17pm

A U.S. soccer fan pretends that Uruguay's soccer striker Luis Suarez is biting him as he takes a selfie next to an Adidas advertisement featuring Suarez near Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, June 26, 2014. FIFA banned Suarez from all football activities for four months on Thursday for biting an opponent at the World Cup, a punishment that rules him out of the rest of the tournament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

RIO DE JANEIRO — After a few days of reflection, Luis Suarez acknowledged what millions saw on TV — he did bite an opponent during a game at the World Cup. In addition, he said he's sorry about it and promised it will never happen again.

Ending a unified protest in Uruguay by everyone from Suarez to teammates, fans and even the country's president that the star striker had done nothing wrong, the Liverpool player offered an apology Monday to Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.

“I deeply regret what occurred,” Suarez said in a statement posted on Twitter. “I apologize to Giorgio Chiellini and the entire football family. ... I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like (this).”

The Uruguay striker was banned for four months from all football by FIFA for biting the shoulder of Chiellini during the team's 1-0 win over Italy in their group-stage game in Brazil. It is the third time Suarez has been banned for biting an opponent, after similar incidents at Ajax in the Dutch league and Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Chiellini responded on Twitter, accepting the apology.

“It's all forgotten,” the Italian wrote in English. “I hope FIFA will reduce your suspension.”